Wednesday 13 April 2016

A warm spring day...

Hello

Some habitat management work to fit in with the Constant Effort Scheme in the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Reservoir coincided with some stunning weather today. The last couple of days has seen an invasion of singing Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers to the county and today a Sedge Warbler was chuntering in bushes at Pitsford. The Green Sandpiper was still below the dam on muddy flood pools, pike were spawning in the shallows, toads were croaking in vegetated waters and five species of butterfly were on the wing including my first Orange-tip of the year. Ashy Mining Bees were active on the track in the Scaldwell Bay. This evening Jacob Spinks located a Yellow-legged Gull around the tern rafts.

Harrington Airfield was busy with would-be observers today with a Ring Ouzel being reported at about 9.30am but seemingly not since. Bob Bullock located a fine male Redstart this morning along the concrete track, and by late afternoon three individuals were on show with an adult male and a female at the start of the concrete track at it's junction with the Draughton Road and another adult male at the very end of the concrete track. Also present were five Wheatears, a pair of Grey Partridge and two Ravens.

John Hunt has kindly reported that two Nightingales were in song at Glapthorn Cow Pastures today, apparently a day later than last year!

Regards

Neil M




Ashy Mining Bees
Andrena cinerari
Pitsford Reservoir

Record and distant
shot of the adult male
Redstart at the concrete
track entrance to Harrington
Airfield this afternoon...



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